Esmeralda is a mysterious spiritualist who has been welcomed into the homes of London’s upper crust.  But her presence is provoking to Lord Varcourt, as his mother engages Esmeralda’s supposed gifts.  Intent on finding out her secrets, Varcourt follows her home and uses sex as a weapon to bend her to his will.  What follows leads to an agreement between enemies that becomes an erotically charged battle of wills and desires.

In this noir-esque romance, mysteries pile upon mysteries.  Varcourt and Esmeralda fight their dark needs for one another as they work together to find resolutions to the secrets that have haunted them both.  With several scenes of forced seduction, this isn’t for the faint of heart.  But Ms. Joyce handles the fine line between love and hate, pain and lust, with a deft hand.  For those who like their historicals with a bit of an edge to them, Wicked Intentions will tease and tempt the reader along with the two protagonists.